Staying faithful

 

Embrace the change

LISTEN . . . then obey

Listening is not simply hearing but requires focusing on the words and sounds. When we listen to the sounds of birds, we immediately begin to look for the birds making the sounds. When listening to music, we can easily drift into another scene within our minds and refocus on the words we hear rather than our current circumstances. Listening leads to a reaction . . . 

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. (Deuteronomy 6:4-5)

The word Shema in Hebrew, used in this verse, means "to hear or listen". However, it can also mean obeying or listening with the intent to obey. So as God spoke to Israel, He is also speaking to us today. We are not simply to be hearers of the Word, (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James%201%3A22-25&version=NKJV) as James wrote, but doers! We are to focus on the words and obey them! The words we listen to from God should cause us to act in obedience.

Constant change

And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. ( 2 Corinthians 3:18)

As believers . . . true followers of Christ . . . we are constantly being transformed into His likeness and character. As we grow in our knowledge of God and His character, we begin to conform to that character through His Holy Spirit living inside of every believer. However, we must pursue Him in order to experience thing transformation. It does not happen without effort! 

After all, he rewards those who earnestly seek him.(Hebrews 11:6) 

God is waiting for us to commit to Him so He can do His work in us. He is not a bully! He will not force it. We must submit to His ways. The CHRISTian walk is a walk of constant change.

An offer to be changed . . .C.O.F.F.E.E.

So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. . . . Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:16-20)

It is an offer to be changed . . . remade . . . remolded . . . the new you and me! In this world, we are seeing all kinds of new products, new programs and new ideas . . . the new you . . . the new me! Products are constantly being rebranded. Stars acquire agents to change the way the public sees them with a new look and new image. Many times we even seek to change the way people perceive us.

Those of us who trust Christ as Lord and Savior were once made new by His grace and mercy. We are no longer seen as a sinner by the Savior. Therefore, we should no longer perceive ourselves or the world the same either. We now have a purpose . . . an eternal purpose. We are no longer here just for the world and its endeavors. We now represent Christ and are to offer Him to everyone we encounter . . . as simple as offering a cup of C.O.F.F.E.E. . . . so they too can be changed.

Be reconciled to Christ . . . . please!

As I look back . . . Part II

The decision to become a CHRISTian is easy. Who in their right mind would choose hell over eternal life with our Creator God and Savior anyway? The challenge is following Christ after we make the decision to become a Christ follower. 

As I look back on the past school year, I wonder how many of the students who claimed to be CHRISTian actually are? For that matter, who are the genuine CHRISTians? It really concerns me. The world has such a grip on us all.

We may never know until we get to see Jesus for ourselves and look around . . . .

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. (1 John 2:15-17)

experience Jesus?

What will you do to experience Jesus?

A man named Zacchaeus lived there. He was a chief tax collector and was very rich. Zacchaeus wanted to see who Jesus was. But he was a short man. He could not see Jesus because of the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree. He wanted to see Jesus, who was coming that way. Jesus reached the spot where Zacchaeus was. He looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, come down at once. I must stay at your house today.” So Zacchaeus came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this. They began to whisper among themselves. They said, “Jesus has gone to be the guest of a sinner. ” But Zacchaeus stood up. He said, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of what I own to those who are poor. And if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay it back. I will pay back four times the amount I took.” Jesus said to Zacchaeus, “Today salvation has come to your house. You are a member of Abraham’s family line. The Son of Man came to look for the lost and save them.” (Luke 19:2-10)

Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector . . . really hated in other words! Yet he needed to see this Jesus and was willing to do anything to do so. Being short, he had to go to great heights to see Him. He climbed a tree! Jesus saw him and called him down to meet with Him. He was changed forever!

What are we going to do this Lent to really experience Jesus?

Different than who?

New year . . . same God . . . same me.

I know that many will say that this year I will not be the same me. We make plans and resolutions with the intent to be different in 2023. Different than who? While we may make plans to do different activities and make decisions differently, we are still the same person inside.

God has wired each of us uniquely with unique DNA, personalities, and talents. He even gives us spiritual gifts or abilities that are unique too the individual. The key to being different is allowing Him to guide us and His plans to be our plans. We must decide to allow His Spirit to be the One Who makes the change!

“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” (Isaiah 43:18-19)

God has not changed. You and I are still the same persons. It may be a new year, but to make it different  . . . . to be different in 2023 . . . . we must decide to give God control! 

when God says otherwise

What do we do when God says "No" to our plans? Do we whine and throw a fit or accept things as His will? I have to admit, most times I fight it! When I thin k I am doing the right thing and things do not go right, I keep fighting to do what I think is right when all along God is saying, "Yeah it might be right by your standards, but I say otherwise!"

So what do you do when God says otherwise? 

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.
The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)

At times, we may make plans and do things which are indeed good and have good intentions, but God may still have a better plan that is best for us and those around us. We all have to learn to give in to God more and more as we mature!

What are your plans for today?

real challenges

 Anger . . . depression . . . anxiety . . . fears . . . broken dreams . . . grief . . . empty promises . . . doubt? 

Welcome to the world of 2022! After a few years of Covid-19 restrictions, presidential pitfalls, and economic woes, many in our world are facing emotional and physical challenges . . . real challenges!

We can easily add to the ones listed above. They are real for believers and non-believers alike.

The difference is what we do about it. Do we linger in the doubts and fears or seek the One who knows all of our troubles. (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2014%3A27&version=NIV) God cares for each and every one of us. (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2015%3A9&version=NIV)

We do have to see after God however. We cannot simply wait and wallow in pity. Even if we do not want to, we must seek after God. Seek Him through worship . . . morning and night! 

Blessed [gratefully praised and adored] be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, who comforts and encourages us in every trouble so that we will be able to comfort and encourage those who are in any kind of trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

That word "church"!

 That word "church" . . .  some love to hear it . . . some shudder to even think about it . . . some fear it . . . some even hate it!  What about you? What comes to mind when you hear that word "church"?

Let's face it, church means many things to many people . . . a place to gather for worship, a group of folks who care and love one another, a place of escape and safety. Others see church as a hypocritical gathering of folks hiding from reality or a place of judgment and ridicule. Recently, church is even seen as a dangerous place to gather; a target for terrorism, hate crimes., and sadly . . . abuse.

These negative feelings do not come from Jesus however. Remember what He said as He cleared out the Temple:

And He said to them, “It is written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer’; but you are making it a den of robbers.” (Matthew 21:13)

In the Old Testament God spoke through Isaiah (Isaiah 56:7) and called His house a joyful place for all peoples! What have we done? We have forgotten the gracious, loving, merciful, and perfect Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior! We have made church about us and not about Him! 

We all have work to do! Let's start today!!! Grace and mercy are free . . .